Submitted by LGP214 t3_zugp6g in pittsburgh
OneDwarfTwoSocks t1_j1ja009 wrote
I'm not shutting anything off until the UPMC sign on the steel building and the lights in the stadium are turned off. They're wasting wayyyy more power than we are.
AirtimeAficionado t1_j1jcb88 wrote
Most large and significant buildings Downtown generate their own power with the steam system, same with Oakland and portions of the North Shore. They are still a part of the same grid, but not necessarily drawing energy in the same way a traditional home does.
UnaffiliatedOpinion t1_j1je91i wrote
One could argue that all capacity should be used to keep homes and hospitals heated and lit. Then again, one could argue that that capacity only exists to keep these places powered when the rest of the grid fails, so they would just not build it if they won't be able to use it.
AirtimeAficionado t1_j1jem4g wrote
It’s also not as simple as just moving that power to homes, the capacity for distribution is also a factor, and sometimes there are limits on how capacity can get from point A to B. And the major hospitals, fortunately, are on the steam network, which is why they almost never lose power.
Snoo-35041 t1_j1jfy5c wrote
I don’t believe that is correct, and the downtown plant is closing down soon. They usually just generate heat, and most newer buildings, after the 70’s don’t use the steam plant, hence it shutting down in town. (And the damage from the last flood didn’t help)
AirtimeAficionado t1_j1jjkkz wrote
PACT is consolidating their operations with Clearview (the system on the North Side), it is not going away. Many, many buildings use the steam, and there is no real better energy solution as of right now. Most systems that use the steam system also generate power. Steam also powers the A/C turbine systems for most buildings. The only buildings that do not use it are the newest PNC towers, to my knowledge.
PGHENGR t1_j1mhbwu wrote
I’ve done HVAC design work in 20+ buildings downtown and I’ve never seen one that uses steam to generate electricity or A/C.
6nop_ t1_j1n5sg8 wrote
Duquesne University generates their own Steam to use for Electricity (4MW) , Heating, and Cooling. This video talks about their system, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKqR7_ZQRwY
PGHENGR t1_j1n6373 wrote
Yeah that’s a college campus, makes sense. It’s not economically feasible for regular building owners to do.
AirtimeAficionado t1_j1nq1rd wrote
I am almost 100% sure several buildings at Pitt use steam for HVAC turbines and power generation, as well as water and building heating. I just assumed it was the same downtown, but I could be wrong!
PGHENGR t1_j1nwn0a wrote
Yup Pitt does use steam for some of that. It’s just really expensive so you’ll typically just see it in sectors that are subsidized in some way. It’s definitely a cool idea it’s just not cheap b
Ntovorni t1_j1k7nau wrote
And the majority of them take part in demand response, which usually is in the summer but functions for this as well. Elevators, HVAC limited, etc etc.
PGHENGR t1_j1mgqhs wrote
Huh? They do not generate power through the steam. They use steam to convert to hot water and use the hot water to heat the building.
ktxhopem3276 t1_j1jp30v wrote
How do you know they are wasting more power than a million people living in the county? Think about all the people going to the game that are turning off their home lights. I think they are just reminding people to turn off unused items because it will save money on your bill and help the grid.
OneDwarfTwoSocks t1_j1jqdls wrote
I am not going to explain why our heat at home is a higher priority than the lights in a stadium. If we have the power to light up advertisements we have the power for my space heater.
ktxhopem3276 t1_j1jv5ra wrote
There is a game and people are not home so they can turn off their home lights to offset the stadium energy. Instead of blaming the shortage on something with the most visibility like the stadium we could harness’s the common effort of a million people to double check and turn off a few unused items
OneDwarfTwoSocks t1_j1jwe95 wrote
The stadium uses an order of magnitude more power than all the lights in all of the homes of everyone in attendance.
ktxhopem3276 t1_j1jygoh wrote
The average household uses 1500 watts an hour. An nfl stadium is around 10 megawatts or about 150 watts per fan.
OneDwarfTwoSocks t1_j1k7eor wrote
Are you under the impression that everyone shuts off their furnace and breaker when they leave their home? I'm blocking you now because you are either not acting in good faith or havent completed the fourth grade.
Wide-Concert-7820 t1_j1jxsva wrote
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ventorun t1_j1k110d wrote
So did the people attending the game turn off their heat and lights when they left the house?
ktxhopem3276 t1_j1k1hie wrote
I said they can turn off their home lights and I said nothing about heat. The point is that the stadium is just a popular punching bag for people to use as a distraction from doing the bare minimum of checking if they are wasting any energy.
fuckmelikeawh0re t1_j1khtg2 wrote
I don't think anyone was saying don't have Steeler games, most likely talking about the times the stadium is lit up when there are no events....................🤦♂️🤦♂️
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